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Sustainability
Action Plan

Introduction

At SWC, we are aware of the need for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. A sustainable College provides a healthy environment for students and staff, promotes resource efficiency, and impresses the importance of tackling societal challenges. We all have a part to play in building a sustainable society and SWC has a particular responsibility to promote sustainability through education and training, knowledge exchange, corporate social responsibility, and the shaping future agendas. We have a responsibility to make change happen and we are committed to making lasting change a real possibility in our college community. Sustainable development and climate change are two of the greatest challenges of our time.

Sustainability is a core value for our staff and students at SWC. With local roots and global reach, we are deeply aware of our responsibilities to leave the world in a better place than we found it. Through our teaching, professional practices, and engagement with students we are committed to being a champion for the natural world. With a growing population of 7 billion, and limited natural resources, we need to find a way to live sustainably, within our means.

Our Sustainability Action Plan is guided by our shared responsibilities and by the principles of the UN Sustainability Goals.

The Sustainability Journey

SWC's Sustainability Commitments

Curriculum:

  • Expand our student population by 10% through the introduction of new sustainability-focused curriculum.
  • Conduct a comprehensive sustainability audit of our existing college curriculum to identify opportunities for integration and improvement.
  • Increase our investment in sustainability knowledge transfer, research and development, and innovation by 15%.

Energy:

  • Reduce our net energy consumption by 30% by 2030 across all campuses.
  • Implement energy-efficient measures and explore renewable energy sources to achieve this target.

Recycling:

  • Ensure that recycling facilities are easily accessible at all waste disposal points across our campuses.
  • Introduce rainwater harvesting systems in all new campus buildings and explore the feasibility of implementing them in existing campuses by 2030.
  • Implement guidelines to minimise the unnecessary use of single-use plastics on college campuses.

Transport:

  • Reduce single occupancy car journeys by 10% through the promotion of alternative transportation options such as carpooling, public transit, and cycling.
  • Replace or adapt 25% of our college transport fleet with electric/hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions and promote sustainable transportation.

Sustainability Office:

  • Establish a dedicated Sustainability Office to lead our sustainability efforts.
  • Organise flagship events, publish sustainability-focused materials, and initiate collaborative partnership projects to demonstrate leadership and engage stakeholders.

These commitments reflect SWC's dedication to advancing sustainability in our operations and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. By embracing these targets, we aim to make tangible progress towards a more sustainable future for our institution and the wider community.

Signature Projects 2024-2026

Curriculum

This Action Plan places utmost importance on keeping education at the forefront. This entails delivering relevant, applied, and challenging programs, modules, short courses, and Continuing Professional Development opportunities at appropriate levels. The adoption of suitable pedagogical approaches, challenging assignments, and timely feedback that serves both summative and diagnostic purposes are key considerations.

It is vital to adhere to the SWC Quality standards and those set by the program validating bodies. Additionally, interventions and the identification of potentially new curriculum arising from Sustainable Development Goals actions are crucial for enhancing the experiences of staff, students, and employers. Staff training and development remain vital in promoting sustainability education.

Initiatives such as the development of a Sustainability Induction Module for new students and a new generic Sustainability Module at Level 4 demonstrate early wins for this Sustainable Development Goals Activity at the college. The substantial research & development activities across the Innovation Centres play a pivotal role in supporting the taught programs with applied case studies, research-informed teaching, and added-value facilities that help shape and evaluate the curriculum in collaboration with numerous industrial partners.

Campus

SWC is committed to exemplary management of its campuses (Erne Campus at Enniskillen, Omagh, Dungannon, Cookstown, and the CREST Centre on the outskirts of Enniskillen). The dedicated Sustainability team in co-ordination with the Estates team ensures impeccable maintenance of the building stock, effective waste management practices, energy efficiency messaging for all staff and students, and the preservation of external areas to promote well-presented landscapes and biodiversity expansion.

The college has explored the use of biomass boilers and has gained recognition for its commitment to a sustainable estate. Embracing Sustainable Development Goals principles, the college fosters a culture where staff members actively seek to make a difference and embrace new and innovative practices.